Israel Elections 2013

More than 3.5 million Israelis voted in the Israeli national elections held Jan. 22, 2013. 66.6% of eligible voters have cast their ballots, as opposed to 65.2% in the 2009 elections.

The election results show a tie between the right and center-left blocs in the Knesset, giving each bloc 60 seats.

PM Netanyahu's two-party bloc Likud Beytenu won 31 seats (compared to 42 seats in the former Knesset). Yesh Atid, a new party founded by Yair Lapid, a prominent media personality, won 19 seats. The Labor party, led by Shelly Yachimovitch, won 15 seats (compared to 13 seats in the former Knesset).

Prime Minister Netanyahu offered to form a broad coalition with Yesh Atid as its main coalition partner, along with the Likud party's natural right-wing partners.

In a speech late Tuesday night, Prime Minister Netanyahu gave a speech to his supporters: "I'm proud to be your prime minister. I thank you for giving me a chance, for the third time, to lead the State of Israel. It is a great privilege and a great responsibility."

"This is an opportunity to effect the kind of change the Israeli people are waiting for, one that will serve the people as a whole... we need to form the broadest government possible. And I have started doing that tonight." Netanyahu said.

Earlier today (January 22, 2013) President Peres cast his ballot in Jerusalem. Peres said in a statement: "In 65 years of existence Israel went through seven wars but never lost its democratic freedom. We fought for our survival but never gave up our democracy. Today the state is asking citizens to vote for a free, beautiful, democratic country. You can hesitate over who to vote for, but don't hesitate to vote I wish all the candidates good luck."

A Guide to Israeli Elections

GovXParagraph3

​Elections in Israel are based on nationwide proportional representation. The Knesset is elected directly by the voters who vote for a party, The Knesset is elected for a four-year term, although most governments have not served a full termand early elections are a frequent occurrence. Israel has a multi-party system based on coalitiongovernments as no party has ever won a majority of seats in a national election.

Parties Competing in the 2013 Israel Elections

GovXParagraph4

​34 parties are competing in the upcoming Israeli national elections to be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2013. Elections to the Knesset are based on a vote for a party rather than for individuals, and the entire country constitutes a single electoral constituency.

The 120 Knesset seats are assigned in proportion to each party's percentage of the total national vote. However, the minimum required for a party to win a Knesset seat is 2% of the total votes cast.​​